Free-Form Document Details Link Name: Selectman's Meeting Minutes Description: Subject/Title: October 2005 Subtitle: Keywords: Review on: [ ] Default to Printable Version Attachments Attach... Standard;October 11, 2005 Present: Deb McMenamy, Cris Irsfeld, George Shippey, Nadine Kennedy-Union Representative, Michael Buffoni-Highway, Sewer and Water Union Stewart and Jorja Marsden Negotiations began with regard to the Highway, Sewer and Water Contract. The next date for negotiations will be October 27 at 9:00 a.m. After negotiations others joined the meeting which included Robert M. Sullivan, of Sullivan Design and Construction Management, P.C., Peter Battisti-Engineer and Christian Boysen-Architect and Chris White a realtor. Mr. Sullivan, Mr. Battisti, and Mr. Boysen requested an informal meeting with the Selectmen to discuss a possible proposal for an equestrian resort at the former DeSisto School property. The mansion would be restored; a possible polo field on the front lawn, the equestrian area would be in the rear, and open space up the mountain and wildlife corridor toward the meadow. The preliminary plans were received with interest by the Selectmen. The Selectmen will contact Town Counsel regarding the plans. It was decided to hold another meeting with the development team and Town Counsel on October 17 at 3:30 as Town Counsel would be in Town for the Special Town Meeting. With no other business, the meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m. A True Copy, ATTEST: October 12, 2005 Present: Deb McMenamy, Cris Irsfeld, George Shippey, Joe Kellogg, Chuck Gillette, Jack Spencer, Laurie Norton-Moffatt, Eva Sheridan, Jim McMenamy and Jorja Marsden Cris made a motion to appoint Ken Shearn to the Housing Authority in place of Polly Pierce. Polly resigned after serving on the Board since 1998. George seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. The Plain School Task Force met to discuss the agenda for the Special Town Meeting. It was decided that each member would introduce themselves and state their reasoning for their decision regarding the Plain School Building and the Town Hall building. It was decided that we should have someone to entertain children. Laurie stated that possibly her daughter would be will to do this. A True Copy, ATTEST: October 17, 2005 Present: Deb McMenamy, Cris Irsfeld, George Shippey, Town Counsel Raymond Miyares, Robert Sullivan, Peter Battisti, Christian Boysen, and Jorja Marsden The gentlemen explained their interest and proposed development of the DeSisto School property. The general thought was that most of the development team’s thoughts would work or could work. It was noted that the frontage is in an R2 zone and that the rest of the property is in an R4 zone. However, with a bylaw change to have the property all one zone then that would not be a problem. The meeting adjourned at 4:56 p.m. A True Copy, ATTEST: October 17, 2005 Special Town Meeting at the Plain School October 19, 2005 Present: Deb McMenamy, Cris Irsfeld, George Shippey, Michael Buffoni and Jorja Marsden George made a motion to go into Executive Session at 6:00 p.m. to discuss personnel matters. Cris seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. George voted to go out of Executive Session at 6:35 p.m. Cris seconded the motion. The vote to go out of Executive Session was unanimous. A True Copy, ATTEST: October 19, 2005 Present: Deb McMenamy, Cris Irsfeld, George Shippey, Roswitha Metz, Steve Borns, Lori Robbins, Karin Passmore, Alan and Barbara Berk, Pam Sandler, Dorothy Mara and Jorja Marsden Deb opened the meeting by thanking everyone who came to the Special Town Meeting. An important decision was made to keep the Plain School building and to convert it to office space. Cris thanked the Task Force for their time over the last one and half years. Deb opened the Berk Special Permit with the reading of the legal notice. The Berks’ who have owned the property at 28 Lake Drive for nineteen years wish to extend and alter the existing nonconforming dwelling by constructing an 8’x5’ covered deck on the north side; and demolish an existing 8’2”x32’9” porch on piers on the east side and replace it with a one story addition with a 4’ deep concrete frost wall foundation on the existing footprint. The property is located in the R-4 zone. Application is made under 6.1.2(A) and 6.1.2(C). Attorney Lori Robbins was representing the Berk’s as Attorney Philip Heller was out of Town. Attorney Robbins described the property as a preexisting, nonconforming single family dwelling located on .86 acres of land with 159’ of frontage on Lake Drive. The lot coverage will only increase from 3.3% to 3.4%. The total habitable area will increase from 5.1% to 5.3%. George stated that Conservation has issued an Order of Conditions. Cris made a motion to recommend approval to the Planning Board under the Lake and Pond Overlay, 6.5 of the Zoning Bylaws. George seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. George made a motion to continue the hearing until October 27, so as to receive a recommendation from the Planning Board. A second was received from Cris. The vote to continue the hearing was unanimous. Dorothy Mara of Hashim and Spinola came to represent Michael and Mary Zabian at 102 East Main Street. The Zabians’ have applied for a special permit with the Planning Board under the Lake and Pone Overlay to install a subsurface sewage disposal system. Ms. Mara explained that the application is to replace an existing system; within 150’ of the mean high water mark of the Housatonic River and that the leach field will be 25 square feet of fill with some piping within the LPOD. They have received an Order Of Conditions, approval from DEP and Tri-Town Health will approve once installed. Cris credited Mr. Zabian with cleaning his property. George made a motion to recommend to the Planning Board approval of the Zabian LPOD special permit as presented. Cris seconded the motion. The vote to recommend approval was unanimous. At the request of the applicant, Kampoosa Clearing, LLC, Cris made a motion to continue the special permit hearing until November 7. A second was received from George. The vote to continue was unanimous. Roswitha Metz, president of CTSB as of July came to request the contract be amended. CTSB is requested the funding be increased by a half percent which is on average about twenty-five cents per subscriber. If approved the flat 5% funding for CTSB, Adelphia will continue to pay the required 4% plus the ½%, which previously had to be matched by fundraising activities by CTSB. The additional ½% which they request will be added to bring the total to 5%. It was noted that it is very difficult doing the fundraising and the Board spends their time on raising funds rather then development of the station. David Lane, Stockbridge Representative to CTSB told Cris that the committee voted unanimously on this proposal. George made a motion to support CTSB as requested. Cris seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous. The following announcements were made: Mahkeenac Terrace Association wrote a letter of praise regarding Michael Blay, Principal Assessor. Donna Moyer, Superintendent of the Berkshire Hills Regional School District, wrote that a sub committee has been formed with the charge of investigating the options available to the District for the location of its central offices. The Postal Service in response to the non-binding ballot questions from the May, 2005 Town Meeting has written that Stockbridge will not be having mail delivery. Stockbridge has received a Community Police Grant for $11,299. George made a motion to appoint John Hyson of Butler Road, as an alternate on the CCC committee which deals with the cleaning up of the Housatonic River. A second was made by Cris. The appointment was unanimous. A thank you was extended to the Highway, Sewer and Water for the great job done in the clean up after the tremendous amount of rain that we have had. George made a motion to close the meeting at 7:45 p.m. A second was received from Cris. The vote to adjourn was unanimous. A True Copy, ATTEST: October 21, 2005 Present: Deb McMenamy, Cris Irsfeld, George Shippey, Clinton Schneyer, Jorja Marsden Cris made a motion at 8:00 a.m. to go into Executive Session to discuss personnel issues. George seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous to go into executive session. George made a motion to go out of executive session at 8:52 a.m. Cris seconded the motion. The motion to go out of executive session was unanimous consent. The vote to adjourn was unanimous. A True Copy, ATTEST: October 27, 2005 Present: Deb McMenamy, Cris Irsfeld, George Shippey, Clinton Schneyer, Michael Buffoni, Nadine Kennedy, Lindy Searing, Mark Viola and Jorja Marsden Cris made a motion at 8:00 a.m. to go into executive session to discuss personnel issues. A second was made by George. The motion to go into executive session was unanimous. George made a motion to come out of the executive session. A second was received from Cris. The vote to adjourn from executive session was unanimous at 8:55 a.m. A True Copy, ATTEST: October 27, 2005 Present: Deb McMenamy, Cris Irsfeld, George Shippey, Nadine Kennedy, Michael Buffoni and Jorja Marsden Negotiations continued with the Highway, Sewer and Water Department. Negotiations will resume on November 10 at 9 a.m. Deb opened the continuation of the Berk Special Permit. The Planning Boards had sent a favorable recommendation to the Selectmen under 6.1.2(A) and 6.1.2(C) of the Zoning Bylaws. The Board of Selectmen made the following findings: a. The change and alteration is in compliance with all provisions and requirements of the bylaw and in harmony with its general intent and purposes; b. The proposed change and alteration is essential and desirable to the public convenience and welfare at the proposed location. c. The change and alteration will not be detrimental to adjacent uses or to the established or future character of the neighborhood. d. The change and alteration will not create undue traffic congestion or unduly impair pedestrian safety. e. The proposed expansion will not overload any public services to the location as the property is served by a well and a subsurface disposal system. Cris made a motion to approve the application as presented. A second was received from George. The vote to approve the Berk Special Permit as presented was unanimous. George made a motion to adjourn at 9:40 a.m. A second was received from Cris. The vote to adjourn was unanimous. A True Copy, ATTEST: October 31, 2005 Present: Deb McMenamy, Cris Irsfeld, George Shippey and Jorja Marsden Since no one was present or on the agenda, the Selectmen read the mail. A motion to adjourn at 7:20 was made by Cris. George seconded the motion. The motion to adjourn was unanimous. A True Copy, ATTEST: